Crystal is ‘World’s Best’ – Again and Again and Again

Crystal River Cruises and Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises take top Travel + Leisure honors, as Crystal Cruises continues to shine

LOS ANGELES, July 11, 2017 – From the World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line™ come two more awarded luxury travel experiences, as Crystal River Cruises and Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises earn top accolades from Travel + Leisure. In the lauded magazine’s 2017 “World’s Best Awards,” Crystal River Cruises was voted “Best River Cruise Line” and Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises was voted “Best Small-Ship Ocean Cruise Line.” Crystal Cruises continues to shine as well as it has once again been named as one of the Best Large-Ship Ocean Cruise Lines. The coveted accolades are awarded by thousands of jet-setting T+L readers, who rated ships on accommodations, service, destinations/itineraries, activities, cuisine and value. The complete results of the prestigious annual survey are published in the magazine’s August 2017 issue.

“We must say a huge ‘thank you’ to the readers of Travel + Leisure – three awards in the same year! – for this esteemed honor,” says Crystal CEO and president, Edie Rodriguez. “T+L readers are some of the savviest travelers in the world, and their recognition is extremely gratifying. This award is a testament to Crystal’s dedicated shipboard and shore-side teams, who remain committed to offering an unsurpassed luxury travel experience for all of our worldwide guests. As a result, I want to extend a huge thank you to our Crystal family for making this possible.”

The first stunning vessel of Crystal River Cruises, the World’s Most Luxurious River Cruise Line™, Crystal Mozart debuted for Crystal River Cruises in summer 2016, marking an entirely new standard of luxury on the rivers of Europe and in the river cruising industry overall. The elegant 154-guest vessel is appointed with the plush amenities, butler service, Michelin-inspired, farm-to-table cuisine served in multiple open-seating venues, and unsurpassed crew-to-guest ratio for which Crystal has been celebrated for more than 27 years. Among the ship’s amenities exclusive to Crystal are a pop-up bar on the top “Vista” deck with a vanishing screen for movie nights al fresco; a fully appointed Crystal Life Spa and fitness center; an indoor pool; two custom-built Italian private yachts for intimate private excursions on the river.

As Crystal continues forward with its groundbreaking brand and fleet expansion, Crystal River Cruises prepares to welcome the next members of its fleet. Crystal Bach and Crystal Mahler– the first and second of the all-balcony, all-suite, “Rhine Class” quadruplet sister river yachts – will embark on their maiden voyages this year.

Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises’ Crystal Esprit offers an intrepid luxury yachting experience in the waters of the West Indies and British Virgin Islands. Accommodating just 62 guests, the yacht boasts an intimate atmosphere of butler-serviced amenities and abundant options for adventurous and active travelers.

Complimentary and optional pursuits in every destination appeal to guests seeking all manner of thrills, while the yacht’s own high-tech marina is equipped for water sports including snorkeling, scuba, paddleboarding, kayaking, and even the industry’s first private submersible.

Crystal is no stranger to such acclaim from Travel + Leisure audiences, as Crystal Cruises and its ocean-going ships Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity have earned the “World’s Best” title for 20 years, more than any other cruise line, hotel or resort in history. Crystal Cruises continued its lauded legacy this year, named as one of the Best Large-Ship Ocean Cruise Lines.

By sea, river, land and air, Crystal has redefined the way the world views luxury travel. Celebrating 27 years of excellence, Crystal Cruises is the World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line, having earned “World’s Best Cruise Ship” in Condé Nast Traveler’s Reader Choice Awards for 23 years; been voted “World’s Best Large Ship Cruise Line” by Travel + Leisure readers for 20 years; and the “Best Luxury Cruise Line” by travel professional organization Virtuoso for three consecutive years (2014, 2015 & 2016). The readers of Travel + Leisure also voted Crystal River Cruises the “World’s Best River Cruise Line” and Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises the “World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Line” in 2017. The Crystal experiences include Crystal Cruises, Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises, Crystal Luxury Air, Crystal River Cruises – The World’s Most Luxurious River Cruise Line – Crystal AirCruises and Crystal Exclusive Class with Crystal Residences. Crystal is proud to be a platinum partner of the professionals of ASTA.